December 9, 2013

 My Italian

Well, another transfer day, barely survived, as can be told from the timing of this email. I'm still in Lyon. And I'm training again. I was sad to have my two comps leave me, Soeur Paulo for Geneva and Soeur Bragg for Nice. So most of the day was spent at the GARE, saying goodbyes, and meeting with the other missionaries who came through. I hate spending the day in the GARE, but Joy, our favorite member came and kept me company in the morning, bringing treats to keep us happy and warm. Also, I SAW SOEUR BUONANOTE. For those who have forgotten, she's my favorite Italian who was in the MTC with me, and I haven't seen her for basially our entire missions because she's been in Suisse, but I got to see her on the way to Carcassonne! 

This week, once again, went to fast. I felt like half of the time, we were running from place to place. This week in Lyon was the Fête des Lumières, a celebration of when Mary saved Lyon from the plague a few hundred years ago. It's actually really cool, because the French go ALL out for it. It was a 4 day celebration, which caused half of the transport in the city to shut down early/have a line that looked like Disneyland on a summer day. It was actually really cool to see, minus the crowds of 3 million+ people. Look up the history and pictures though, because it's so beautiful. This made work pretty interesting, since half of the buses didn't work after about 5, leaving us to walk/run to rendez-vous. 

Soeur Theroomy, a Malaysian less active had us over for some spicy and delicious food, as we are trying to help her back to church. She's got an awesome faith, the problem is, her dang kids are anti. Greeeeeeaaat. So it's slow and steady, since most Sunday's, she's called by one of her kids for some "family emergency" or another, but we'll get her there! 

Oh, here's a cool miracle: We were on our way to a lesson. This was one of the moments where for some reason public transport was out of the question, so we were walking. We ended up at one of the metro stop offices, as Soeur Bragg is sorting something out with her pass. The two gaurd/watchmen (whatever they were?) who were in the office came and started contacting *us* by asking "Qu'est-ce que cette livre?" (about the Livre de Mormon we were holding). That, my friends, is why you always have a Book of Mormon in your hands. I explained and invited them to learn more. They were a little hesitant, since they were on the job, but they both wanted one. They were excited when we testified about the promise, and happily told us they'd read it. What does this show us? We should all carry around Books of Mormon and people will be draw to us! Mmmm? Anyone?

We visited a few members this week, who all ended up being single women. Not going to lie, our ward is a bit overwhelming since it's like the biggest one in the mish (#hardlife), only because there are SO many people who need our love and attention. But I love visiting members, because even after one short visit, they feel like your best friends, and suddenly, whenever they see you, they are so happy to see you! Members are the best! Also, any chance to hear a conversion/life story, and I'm sold. We ask them about their lives and experiences, and they respond with their soucis and testimonies, and we (the Spirit) help them rekindle the flame of their faith. Also, this holiday season isn't easy for everyone. It can be lonely. And all people need every once in a while is some love.

We met with Joy (ami) again this week. It is seriously the most incredible thing to watch her learn, because we can see the Spirit working with her. This time, she told us she would for sure be baptized in January, since it's "What God wants me to do". PRAISE. We also got to see member Joy, who is one of our favorite people/best friends. She calls the three of us her "angels", and we've officially started the exclusive club of The 4 Libras. She's so great, and SO loving, and her and her nonmember husband love having us. We even had a last supper with them, as we played the funnest game "BANG", ate lemon cheesecake (OH.MY.WORD.), and then they took us to a Chinese buffet thing to meet all their non member friends, where Soeur Bragg and I were interviewed about the "glamorous" California life, quote, unquote. We debated what stars we should make up and say that we've met. #iloveforiegners 

Transfer calls, were stressful as usual, but especially hard since it meant Soeur Bragg and Paulo had to say goodbye to our members, and especially Zamir and Zamira. So let me just explain the dramatic way this all went down. First of all, when we met with them on Friday and told them the news, they suddenly got very quiet, and would've spent the entire lesson sinking into a depression, had we not read about the Savior. So, it was depressing, and the whole "last Sunday" concept are always sad. There was also a repas after church, which apparently in France means bring your own picnic? Of course, we didn't know that, and were expecting to share with others. So the sweet bishop's wife grabbed all of our plates, which had very little on them, and filled them, even though she had her entire family to feed. It's moments like that when I'm humbled to pieces. We had to perform like a million times at church, and after, when a group of missionaries put on a concert. Then, randomly, they told us Zamir/a had to leave. IIIIIIIIIII'M SORRY, it's not "acceptable" for us to "expect" for you to "spend the entire day at church" with "us"?! Yeah, that was a surprise. Mostly since we had planned this big, final lesson, and now we only had a few minutes to say goodbye. We went into a room with them, and said a kneeling prayer, and then the most spirit-packed 10 minutes ever. Soeur Paulo bore her testimony to them, and you could visibly see the light RADIATING from her eyes. Soeur Bragg gave a tearful testimony, full of love. Then..THEN, Zamir gave his testimony about how he knew we would always be best friends, and how he was grateful that we had helped him come to know the Savior. *Sidenote: At this point, we're all slightly beside ourselves.* Zamira, who was a bit quiet, bore her testimony, and it was one of the most honest, sincere, pure things I have ever heard. Why?

She looked at us at one point randomly during a lesson, and did this face..love her.

1. She knows the Book of Mormon is true.

2. She knows this church is true.

3. She knows that Jesus Christ is the Savior.

4. She knows that we were best friends in the premortal life "and even though we don't really speak the same language now, we did then, and we can feel that same love".

Was it one of the best moments on my mission to hear that? Yes. Yes, it was. They are incredible.

Something special about the Fête des Lumières here in Lyon, is that on 8 decembre, everyone puts these little luminarias (is that what they're called?), along their window seals. So for our last night, before we had to stress about packing, we walked outside, and got to see all the beautiful lights along the river. It was a bit difficult to contact since most of the people we passed were drunk, returning from the Fête, but the flickering lights coming from everyones window seals, along with the Fête lights, was so incredible. In a dark and cold night, they made everything seem a little warmer. IT'S SYMBOLIC. That's what the Savior does. No matter how dark, or cold, or terrible, etc, the situation, the Savior does nothing but bring light and joy and peace and love. The message (HIM), can do nothing but bring good things. Happy things. I've seen it so much during this week. The light that comes into someones eyes when they feel the Spirit. The light that radiates from someone when they serve others. The light that comes from this season, as people remember the impportant things. Look for the light, keep it in your lives, and share it with others.

I'm sad to no longer be in a trio, but I'm grateful for my companions. For the love they have for the work, and the things they taught me. But I'm excited for my new bleu. I'm praying for her. 

Je vous aime.

Soeur Luthi